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Note 6 - Construction Joint Ventures (Details) - Noncontrolling Venture Partner Share (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 156,974us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	$ 114,485us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Less current liabilities	(104,650)us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	(105,799)us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Sterling’s receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures	9,153strl_ReceivablesFromAndEquityInConstructionJointVenture	6,118strl_ReceivablesFromAndEquityInConstructionJointVenture
Corporate Joint Venture [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current assets	18,132us-gaap_AssetsCurrent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember	51,329us-gaap_AssetsCurrent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Less current liabilities	(49,035)us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember	(64,531)us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Net assets	(30,903)us-gaap_AssetsNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember	(13,202)us-gaap_AssetsNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Backlog	55,063strl_Backlog / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember	101,014strl_Backlog / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Sterling’s noncontrolling interest in backlog	15,889strl_NoncontrollingInterestInBacklog / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember	30,652strl_NoncontrollingInterestInBacklog / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Sterling’s receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures	$ 9,153strl_ReceivablesFromAndEquityInConstructionJointVenture / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember	$ 6,118strl_ReceivablesFromAndEquityInConstructionJointVenture / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember

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Backlog

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Noncontrolling interest in backlog

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- Definition

Amounts due from minority-owned entities in which the reporting entity shares joint control with another party or group, due within 1 year (or 1 business cycle). Also, includes the entity's equity in minority-owned joint ventures.

+ References

No definition available.

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Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are expected to be realized in cash, sold, or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

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Amount of net assets (liabilities).

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Total obligations incurred as part of normal operations that are expected to be paid during the following twelve months or within one business cycle, if longer.

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